Product Description

The extremely popular Canadian Dinosaurs program continues with the horned dinosaur Xenoceratops Foremostensis! The design image by Canadian artist Julius Csotonyi features an interpretation of what this mysterious, ancient reptile may have looked like. The scientific accuracy of the depiction was verified by palaeontologists of the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. A limited mintage of just 8,500 and a highly popular subject matter (dinosaurs!), combined with exceptional design and traditional engraving, mean that this beauty is sure to be a favorite among coin collectors, archaeologists, palaeontologists and dinosaur fans alike! Fearsome reptiles released so far in the Canadian Dinosaurs program include:

The coin image by Canadian artist Julius Csotonyi features an interpretation of how Xenoceratops may have looked. Viewed from the front on its right side, this full-body portrait presents some of Xenoceratops most striking features, including its beak-like mouth, vast spiky skull frill, horns, large muscular body, and relatively short legs. It walks on four-clawed feet across a smooth, stony landscape, its small right eye cast upon the viewer. This artists depiction presents an interpretation of possible tonal variations on a pebble-textured hide, all rendered in dimensional detail by Royal Canadian Mint engravers using multiple finishes and expert engraving techniques. The scientific accuracy of the depiction was verified by palaeontologists Dr. Michael Ryan and Dr. David Evans who discovered and described Xenoceratops in 2012.

The Mysterious Case of the Nova Scotian Ornithischian Scutellosaurus Though the current North American landscape is geologically recent, the continent has teemed with life for hundreds of millions of years. Clues to the life story of our land and the creatures that once lived here lie encased in rock and earth. Solving the mystery of how they lived and died has captivated American researchers for over a century!

Fossils of dinosaurs are surprisingly uncommon, and complete specimens are extremely rare; thus, palaeontologists often need to gather knowledge from many other scientific disciplines to understand the evidence they uncover. Palaeontologists carefully study and interpret findings to arrive at a well integrated hypothesis of what the lifestyle of a fossilized creature could have been. Technology offers help in documenting and dating fossils, but palaeontologists most important tools are meticulous research, creativity, logic and patience.

In 2012, a team of Canadian palaeontologists rediscovered a series of fossils collected in 1958 from Albertas Foremost Formation, near the village of Foremost. These samples led researchers to identify not only a new species of dinosaur, but the oldest species of its kind yet discovered in Canada. Dr. Ryan and Dr. Evans also collected an additional fragmentary skull of the Xenoceratops from just north of Foremost that confirmed aspects of its reconstruction.

Purity Note The Royal Canadian Mint refines the purest silver in the world. The RCM is also the only mint in the world to issue commemorative coins in a .9999 fineness. This one ounce silver proof is 99.99% pure!

A depiction of the horned dinosaurXenoceratops Foremostensis by artist Julius Csotonyi. The scientific accuracy of the depiction was verified by palaeontologists Dr. Michael Ryan and Dr. David Evans who discovered and described Xenoceratops in 2012. The scientific name XENOCERATOPS FOREMOSTENSIS is sunk into the coin, an example of an incuse legend. The date of issue and denomination are both indicated.

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in profile facing right. This portrait, the fourth effigy of the queen to appear on Canadian Coinage, was executed by the artist Susanna Blunt. The legend ELIZABETH II D. G. REGINA ("Elizabeth II, Queen by the Grace of God") also appears.

The coin is encapsulated inside a burgundy leatherette, clamshell-style presentation case, lined with black velvet and protected by an outer sleeve. An individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included.